The Sports 1043058 222010816 2008-06-27T03:30:08Z Dan arndt 2298426 Chart positions - Kent Music Report {{Infobox musical artist | Name = The Sports | | Img =|240px|thumb| | Img_capt = | Img_size = | Background = group_or_band | Alias = | Origin = [[Melbourne, Victoria]] [[Australia]] | Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]<br>[[New Wave music|New Wave]] | Years_active = 1976 - 1981 | | Label = [[Mushroom Records]]<br>[[Sire Records]]<br>[[Arista Records|Arista]]<br>[[Stiff Records]]<br>[[Raven Records]]<br>[[Festival Records]]| | Associated_acts = Pelaco Brothers<br> | URL = | Current_members = | Past_members = [[Stephen Cummings]], Andrew Pendlebury, Robert Glover, Paul Hutchins, Ed Bates, Jim Niven, [[Red Symons]], Freddie Strauks, [[Martin Armiger]] }} '''The Sports''' were a popular [[Australia]]n [[Rock music|rock]] [[Musical ensemble|group]] that performed and recorded between [[1976]] and [[1981]]. Based in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], the group released a number of successful singles and albums. Their sound fit well with both 1970s British [[Pub rock (UK)|pub rock]] bands (such as [[Brinsley Schwarz]]) and British [[New Wave music|New Wave]] (such as [[Elvis Costello]]). Their best known songs include ''Boys (What Did The Detective Say?)'', ''Don't Throw Stones'', ''When You Walk In The Room'', ''How Come'', ''Who Listens To The Radio?'', ''Perhaps'' and ''Strangers on a Train''. ==Biography== The Sports were formed in 1976 by [[Stephen Cummings]] who was the singer of Melbourne [[rockabilly]] group, The Pelaco Brothers, (which comprised Cummings, [[Joe Camilleri]], Peter Lillie and Johnny Topper). Cummings, togther with Andrew Pendlebury (ex-Myriad), Ed Bates (Ex-Pelaco Brothers), Robert Glover (ex-Myriad), Jim Niven (ex-captain Matchbox Whoopee Band)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milesago.com/artists/matchbox.htm |title=The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band|publisher=Milesago |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> and Paul Hitchins. Cummings recalls <blockquote>''"I just vaguely met people and dragged them into it. I always wanted Andrew in the group as a guitarist and I had an idea for a rockabilly country sound. But I always wanted to change it because I really liked the [[MC5]] and wanted to make it more like that as well."''<ref name="juice">{{cite web |url=http://www.lovetown.net/articles/97juice.html |title=The Good Sport |publisher=Juice Magazine |last=Creswell |first=Toby |date=September, 1997 |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref></blockquote> The Sports started its recording career in early 1977 by pressing 500 copies of an independently produced [[EP]], ''Fair Game''. A friend in London posted the record to the [[New Musical Express]] which declared it 'Record Of The Week'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mushroommusic.com.au/songwriters/songwriter.asp?id=268 |title=Songwriters: Cummings, Stephen |publisher=[[Mushroom Records|Mushroom Music Publishing]] |accessdate=2008-06-26}}</ref> The Sports finding themselves right in tune with the very latest music trend dominating London rock. They became part of the promise of a new beginning for song-based rock as an antidote to [[Punk music|punk]], dubbed [[New Wave music|New Wave]]. ''"We were totally surprised,"'' Cummings says of the NME review. <blockquote>''"It was the last thing you'd expect. It was my making and my undoing in some ways. When you have everything go right so quickly you expect that everything after that is going to be good and that easy. It meant that I probably didn't put myself out as much as I should have."''<ref name="juice"/></blockquote> The Sports broke up in 1981 with lead singer [[Stephen Cummings]] going on a successful solo singing career. Guitarist [[Martin Armiger]] became a successful composer for film and TV. ==Members== * [[Martin Armiger]] - guitar (1978-1981) * Ed Bates - guitar (1976-1978) * [[Stephen Cummings]] - vocals (1976-1981) * Robert Glover - bass (1976-1981) * Paul Hitchins - drums (1976-1980) * Iain McLennan - drums (1980) * Jim Niven - vocals, keyboards (1976-1980) * [[Andrew Pendlebury]] - guitar, vocals (1976-1981) * Freddie Strauks - drums (1980-1981) * [[Red Symons]] - keyboards (1980) ==Discography== ===Albums/EPs=== * ''Fair Game'' (EP) - Zac Records (1977) - limited to 500 copies * ''Reckless'' - [[Mushroom Records]] (1978) <small>#43 AUS</small> * ''Don't Throw Stones'' - [[Mushroom Records|Mushroom]]/[[Arista Records|Arista]]/[[Sire Records|Sire]] (February, 1979) <small>#9 AUS</small> * ''So Obvious'' (EP) - [[Stiff Records|Stiff]] (1979) * ''O.K., U.K.!'' (EP) - Mushroom (August, 1979) <small>#40 AUS</small> * ''Suddenly'' - Mushroom/Arista (1980) <small>#13 AUS</small> * ''Sondra'' - Mushroom (May, 1981) <small>#20 AUS</small> * ''The Sports play Dylan (and Donovan)'' (EP) - Mushroom (1981) <small>#70 AUS</small> * ''All Sports'' - Mushroom (1982) <small>#35 AUS</small> * ''Missin' Your Kissin''' - [[Raven Records|Raven]] (1987) * ''This Is Really Something'' - Mushroom (1997) * ''Definitive Collection'' - [[Festival Records|Festival]] (August, 2004) ===Singles=== * "Boys! (What Did The Dective Say)"/"Modern Don Jaun" - Mushroom (March, 1978) <small>#55 AUS</small> * "When You Walk In The Room" - Mushroom (July, 1978) <small>#42 AUS</small> * "Who Listens To The Radio?" - Mushroom/[[Ariola]] (November, 1978) <small>#35 AUS, #50 US</small> * "Reckless"/"Mailed It To Your Sister" - Mushroom (1979) * "Don't Throw Stones"/"Terror Hits" - Mushroom/[[Arista Records|Arista]] (March, 1979) <small>#26 AUS</small> * "Suspicious Minds"/Bruises" - Mushroom (April, 1979) <small>#74 AUS</small> * "Poor Mouth"/"Heart Of Darkness" - Mushroom (1980) * "Strangers On A Train"/"Can't Ever Decide" (live) - Mushroom (March, 1980) <small>#22 AUS</small> * "Perhaps" - Mushroom (April, 1980) * "Stop The Talking"/"Big City Lights" - Mushroom (October, 1980) * "How Come"/"Drug Sluts" - Mushroom (March, 1981) <small>#21 AUS</small> * "When We Go Out Tonight"/"Some Brass Thing" - Mushroom (July, 1981) * "Sunshine Superman"/"Cargo Cult" - Mushroom (November, 1981) <small>#72 AUS</small> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.whammo.com.au/encyclopedia.asp?articleid=402 Australian Encyclopedia of Rock & Pop article] *[http://lovetown.net/discog/sports.html Sports Discography] *[http://www.whiteroom.com.au/howlspace/en2/sports/sports.htm HowlSpace] *[http://lovetown.net/articles/79ram.html RAM magazine - June 29, 1979] {{DEFAULTSORT:Sports, The}} [[Category:Victoria musical groups]] [[Category:Early punk groups]] {{Australia-band-stub}}